St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-12-25

manner of entrance is an essential part
of the narrative. 1t was clear, crisp,
invigorating morning that ushered in
Christmas, and | was still in bed when
suddenly the door opened and young
Indian maiden entered the department.
She was followed by
II. ST OF COMPANIONS OF HER SEX,
until fully two score old and young fe-
males We're gathered about my bedside.
1t turned out, afterward, that some one
had told them that | intended to give
the customary presents Christmas in
stead of New Years day.and they made
up their minds to be on hand early. In
the Sternest manner possible
babe them all clear out of the room
until | could dress myself: but the only
answer returned was vOlley of laugh
ter from my tOrmentors. And there
they persisted in remaining until
-the-PineS, that being the
name given me by nv Indian comrade,
made his toilet, and l venture to say
that no man ever executed a quicker
movement than l did under these en-
barrassing circumstances in the pres
ence of forty duSky and eXpectant fe-
males. Finally, after l was dressed,
they followed me to the store and were.
soon ObliviOus of their mornings adj
venture in discussing the merits of
dress patterns, gew-gawS and other
finery that had bestowed upon them
for their personal adOrnment.
Waw-ze-o-man-nee (Walker in the
Pines was one of the braveSt men in
the Dakota tribe, and the manner in
which l obtained this name, which still
belongs to me, will doubtless prove in
teresting. According to the GUS
toms and usageS of the DacO-
tabs, after a warrior had distin-
guished himself in battle he could, if he
saw fit, change his name and assume
any one that he might select; in most
cases they took the name of deceased
relative, generally chief. Walker-in-
the-PineS had been out with me on
many hunting expeditions, and had
always been good friend and at times
when friend was needed. From my
position as the representative of the fur
company, exercised
A GREAT DEAL OF INFLUENCE
among the Indians and stood very high
in their estimation. In all the time that
lived among them, and Oftentimes
travelled hundreds of miles with soil
tary companion, living in the villages
of these warlike tribes, L was always
Hospitality received and entertained,
This bit of egOtism will be pardOned, L
know, when the sequel is given. for L
have INDUCED in this only to bring out
more strongly the manner in which |
obtained my present DacOtah name.
Walker-in-the-Pine consequently eS-
teemed himself very highly compli-
mented one day, after successful hunt,
when | announced that hereafter he
should be my comrade. Among the
DacOtahs that was the strongest tie of
friendship, exceeding even that of
brother, as one cOmrade must always
stand ready to assist the other, no mat
ter what the occasion might be. In
fact, it was the strongest kind of rela-
tionShip known to the SavageS. Up to
the time of which | speak my name
among the Indians was that of the Tall
Frenchman.
When Notwithstanding had dis
tinguished himself in battle as befitted
warrior, and after his return to the
camp, he dispatched a messenger to
summon all the inhabitants. Then,
through the crier, he announced that he
had bestowed his original name, Walker
in-the-Pines, upon his comrade, myself.
and that he had assumed the name of
his deceased uncle Chief Pines
haw, or Neutrality-suspicious., or
the man who fears nothing.
In some mysterious manner, and
which / could never fathom, throughout
all the Indian tribes it was flashed stimuli
taneously that hereafter the Tall
Frenchman would be known as Walker
in-the- Pines, and was never called by
my former name again.
''Speaking of the singularly rapid
method of communication among the
Indians reminds me that at the time of
the Custer massacre, and some time be-
fore the papers obtained the news, L
learned of the affair through an Indian
who trusted me implicitly, and told me
in confidence the sad result of the Big
Horn battle. But he did not enlighten
me as to the source from which he OBJ
tanned his information, and it will
doubtless ever be mystery to me.